Make a submission – Inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW – DUE FRIDAY 13TH SEPT
Friends of the Hound and community rehoming organisations active within NSW have voiced their concerns regarding the Inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW as shown in this letter below.
In your submission it would be great to include the two main points listed to amplify our voices.
- Stocktake of the current backlog of greyhounds still in the industry, retired and awaiting rehoming.
- A feasibility study regarding the sustainability of the industry if NSW were to introduce breeding caps to ensure that all dogs that the industry produces are able to be responsibly rehomed in a way that provides appropriate stimulation, enrichment and support for sentient beings.
MAKE YOUR SUBMISSION TO THE INQUIRY HERE >
BEFORE FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2024
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19 July 2024
To Hon. Ministers Minns, Harris & Ms Moriarty MLC,
RE: TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INQUIRY INTO GREYHOUND RACING NSW
We the undersigned, note the Minister Harris’ request for the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GWIC) to conduct an inquiry (the Inquiry) under part 8 of the Greyhound Racing ACT 2017 into matters relating to the various complaints concerning Greyhound Racing NSW.
The current Terms of Reference sets the scope of the inquiry and a date for the report to be tabled of 13 December 2024.
This is pending concurrence from Hon. Tara Moriarty, MLC.
We respectfully request that the scope defined in the Terms of Reference be revised to instead stipulate the below:
- Stocktake of the current backlog of greyhounds still in the industry, retired and awaiting rehoming.
- A feasibility study regarding the sustainability of the industry if NSW were to introduce breeding caps to ensure that all dogs that the industry produces are able to be responsibly rehomed in a way that provides appropriate stimulation, enrichment and support for sentient beings.
Noting the revised scope is significantly reduced, we suggest the time period needed to complete the Inquiry can in turn be reduced.
Dr Alex Brittan BVSc. MRCVS has alleged that due to poor rehoming numbers, somewhere between 8,000 to 13,000 greyhounds are being held in industry kennels throughout NSW.
Whilst we agree that an Inquiry into the welfare of the animals within the industry is of upmost importance, it cannot be ignored that whilst this Inquiry is undertaken an additional 2,000 greyhound puppies will be born into the NSW racing industry (based on past breeding statistics in NSW as reported by GWIC).
Our proposed approach is also in the industry’s best interests as Dr Miranda Gott of GWIC indicated in her presentation at the Rehoming and Prohibited Substance Summit in September 2023, the oversupply of dogs has a financial impact to the industry of minimum $8.4 million per annum.
As community rehoming organisations which are active within NSW we have firsthand knowledge of the desperate oversupply of greyhounds the industry is currently grappling with. This is why we believe it is imperative that the industry and the public are made aware of the true numbers of un-rehomed greyhounds who are currently awaiting rehoming within industry kennels.
Dr Brittan’s report reflected what we have been acutely aware of for many years: the rehoming rates will never be able to match the supply of greyhounds bred by the NSW industry.
In Dr Brittan’s own words: “Until the existing backlog of un-rehomed greyhounds is acknowledged and addressed, it is utterly immoral to allow yet more greyhounds to enter this unsustainable morass of exploitation and suffering.”
Per the Terms of Reference, the purpose of the Inquiry is to “Ensure a viable and sustainable greyhound racing industry in NSW with the highest standards of integrity and animal welfare”.
We believe to uphold this purpose, our proposed scope of the Inquiry coupled with a shorter time period to answer these critical questions will ensure that the highest possible standards of integrity and animal welfare can be met.
Until a balance is struck between breeding limits which support rehoming efforts, no amount of welfare will truly be effective to reform the greyhound racing industry.
Sincerely,
Sian Rinaldi
Snooter Brown Greyhound Behaviour Re-Training
Co-Ordinator of the ACT Greyhound Support Network
Signatories (all community rehoming organisations active within NSW):
Friends of the Hound
Homeward Bound Hounds
Hounds In Homes
Gumtree Greys
ACT Greyhound Support Network
Elysian Fields Horse & Hound Sanctuary
Additionally, the revised scope has been supported by WA’s Free the Hounds.
SPEAK UP FOR THE GREYHOUNDS
NSW – the state of shame and sorrow – add your signature
Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds
Shocking revelations have highlighted the appalling suffering of greyhounds in NSW and the vileness at the heart of the racing industry.
Bring back the ban – add your signature
Animal Justice Party
NO MORE CHANCES – Greyhound racing must be outlawed.
An explosive report brought to light by the Animal Justice Party coming from the former Chief Veterinary Officer of Greyhound Racing NSW has made damning claims of thousands of dead dogs, welfare issues, and over-reporting of rehoming numbers.